Series to test your spirit of adventure

2 Jun 2014, 11:08 p.m.

IT MAY not have the global following of the Tour de France but a group of junior orienteers are hoping that Esk Valley's Tour de Trevallyn will bring out the crowds to participate rather than spectate.

IT MAY not have the global following of the Tour de France but a group of junior orienteers are hoping that Esk Valley's Tour de Trevallyn will bring out the crowds to participate rather than spectate.

The aim is to have the club's own version of the cycling classic but on foot, closer to home and open to public participation.

Trevallyn Reserve will host the series on Saturdays from June 14-28 and August 2-16, with starts from 1.30pm to 3pm, and courses closing at 4pm.

The club's Valerie Brammall said the reserve provided a wide variety of terrain, perfect for local orienteering at all levels.

``With plenty of interlocking tracks and open bushland as well as more complex terrain suitable for cross-country navigation, the series at Trevallyn Reserve provides the public with an opportunity to explore the unknown areas beyond the more familiar public picnic and barbecue areas with a map in hand,'' Brammall said.

On each of the three competitive courses there will be a weekly winners' jersey for both the king of the hill, sprint legs and overall winner. Cumulative times on the best five out of six events will determine the overall winners.

The long (5-6 kilometres) and medium courses (3-3.5km) will be moderate-to-hard in navigational difficulty, with the short course (1.5-2km) easy and suitable for newcomers.

Each of the six events will begin from a different start point.

The first starts at the car park at the junction of Reatta Road and Duck Reach Road.

Trevallyn Dam picnic ground and Aquatic Point are two of the better known starting points, while Havenbrook Drive off Reatta Road provides another.

Members of the public, including family groups, are welcome to take part, with only casual registration required.

Junior orienteers Luke Nichols, Bryce Fleming and Hannah Goddard have teamed up with Ashley Nankervis to devise the Esk Valley Tour de Trevallyn.